Fig. 485.—Abyssinian Pump.
The operation described on page 456 can usually be performed without any difficulty. Sometimes, however, the tube may come in contact with a large stone, and in that case the experiment must be tried elsewhere; but, as a rule, the pointed tube, in consequence of its small size and penetrative power, pushes any moderately-sized obstacle aside, readily turns aside itself, or passes between pieces of stone to the desired depth. Nine times out of ten the operation will be successful, and the experiment will not occupy more than an hour, under ordinary circumstances, and the tubing (and pump) may be obtained at a moderate price, which can even be diminished by arrangement. Ordinary wells are relatively very difficult to sink, and the soil thrown out from the pit is in the way, while a parapet is necessary to protect the opening. Besides, should water not be found after much work, the expense and trouble of digging will be uselessly incurred. Thanks to the tube system, we can search or probe for water anywhere with ease, and if we do not find it in one spot we can easily move on to another without incurring any serious trouble or expense.
We believe the idea of these “instantaneous wells” originated in the United States during the War of Secession, when some soldiers of the Northern army sunk rifle barrels into the ground, and obtained water in a barren land. To Mr. Norton the development of the idea is due, and in the Abyssinian Expedition the utility of the notion was fully demonstrated. Since that time M. Donnet of Lyons has modified and improved the tube-well, and arranged all the materials, including wider tubing and the hammers upon a carriage, thus giving greater facilities to the workmen and to those desirous of sinking such wells.
The general arrangement of M. Donnet, and the carriage with its equipments utilized, is depicted in fig. 484; the actual sinking of the well is carried out just as originally performed by Mr. Norton.
A New Swimming Apparatus.
Fig. 486.—Swimming apparatus.
We have to mention a novel means of swimming, which may prove useful to those who distrust the natural buoyancy of water and their own powers of keeping afloat or swimming. The simple apparatus, shown in fig. 486, is the invention of an American named Richardson, a citizen of Mobile, U.S.
Fig. 487.—Nautical Velocipede.